SC_P.  45.3ft 3 


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REPORT  OF  THE  MISSION 


OF  THE 


PRESBYTERIAN 


TO  THE 


CHINESE  AND  JAPANESE 


ON  THE  PACIFIC  COAST. 


JULY,  1885. 


San  Kranctsco: 

BACON  A COMPANY,  BOOK  AND  JOB  PRINTERS, 
Corner  Clay  and  Sansome  Streets. 

1885. 


PRESBYTERIAN  CHINESE  CHURCH, 
Stockton  St.,  bet.  Clay  and  Washington  Sts. 


SAN  FRANCISCO. 

Services  at  n a.  m.  and  7:30  p.  m. 

Sabbath  Schools  at  12:15  and  6 p.  m. 


MISSIONARIES. 

Rev.  A.  W.  Loomis,  D.D.  and  Wife, 

1505  Jones  Street,  San  Franciscoj 

Rev.  Ira  M.  Condit  and  Wife, 

Los  Angeles. 

Rev.  Alex.  J.  Kerr  and  Wife, 

1224  Jackson  Street,  San  Francisco 

Rev.  W.  S.  Holt  and  Wife, 

82  Yamhill  Street,  Portland,  Oregon. 

~<© — ..-L — ©>- 

NATIVE  HELPERS. 

Suing  Cmack Oakland  and  Sacramento. 

Tam  Ye  Gam San  Francisco. 

Yip  Wan  Shang “ “ 

Nam  Art Traveling. 

Ngo  Chew  Fong “ 


MISSION  STATIONS. 


San  Francisco, 
Oakland, 

Los  Angeles, 
Sacramento, 
San  Jose, 
Santa  Rosa, 

N apa, 


San  Rafael, 
Alameda, 
Placerville, 
Anaheim, 

Orange, 

San  Buenaventura, 
Portland,  Oregon. 


-«= — ov- 

Churches. 

The  Presbyterian  Chinese  Church,  of  San  Francisco, 

Stockton  Street,  bet.  Clay  and  Washington  Streets. 

The  Presbyterian  Chinese  Church,  of  Oakland, 

264  Thirteenth  Street. 

The  Presbyterian  Chinese  Church,  of  Los  Angeles, 

Wilmington  Street 

The  Presbyterian  Japanese  Church,  of  San  Francisco, 

1 18  Golden  Gate  Avenue. 


•-<0 G>>~ 


ELDERS. 

Loi  Mong 

Fong  Doon 

Shing  Chack 

Dang  Hung 

Wong  Shiu 

J.  Morita,  1 

K.  Mitani,  j 


San  Francisco. 

<<  << 

Oakland. 

(< 

Los  Angeles. 
.Japanese  Church. 


SAN  FRANCISCO. 

Report  prepared  by  Rev.  A.  J.  Kerr. 

The  work  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Missions 
among  the  Chinese  on  the  Pacific  Coast  was  begun  by  the 
Rev.  Wm.  Speer,  in  November,  1852.  Dr.  Speer  had  been  in 
Canton  as  a missionary,  but  was  compelled  to  return  on  account 
of  impaired  health.  By  his  knowledge  of  the  language  and 
of  the  people  he  was  prepared  to  enter  upon  his  work  here  at 
once. 

In  November,  1853,  a church  was  organized,  consisting  of 
four  members,  and  during  that  year  a commodious  and  admir- 
ably situated  Mission  House  was  erected  at  the  corner  of 
Stockton  and  Sacramento  Streets.  The  building  contains  a 
chapel,  school  rooms,  apartments  for  Chinese  assistants  and  the 
studies  of  the  missionaries.  Services  were  conducted  regularly 
on  Sabbath  and  during  the  week,  and  a small  dispensary  was 
opened  in  which  three  Christian  physicians,  Drs.  Ayers,  Coon, 
and  Downer,  gave  their  services  regularly.  A paper  for  the 
Chinese  was  published  by  Dr.  Speer.  It  was  printed  usually  in 
English  on  one  side  and  in  Chinese  on  the  other. 

In  1857  Dr.  Speer’s  health  again  failed,  so  that  he  was  com- 
pelled to  go  East.  During  an  interval  of  about  two  years  the 
Mission  was  suspended  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  finding  a 
suitable  man  to  take  charge.  In  1859,  however,  the  Board  in- 
duced the  Rev.  A.  W.  Loomis  to  undertake  the  work.  He 
had  been  a missionary  in  China  from  1844  to  1850,  and  was 
well  qualified  by  his  knowledge  of  the  people — their  religion, 
habits,  superstitions,  etc.— but  the  dialect  he  had  used  was  dif- 
ferent from  that  spoken  by  the  Chinese  who  were  coming  to 
our  shores.  The  Cantonese  dialect  had  therefore  to  be  learned, 
and  the  work  carried  on  at  the  same  time.  Of  the  little  church 


6 


only  two  members  remained,  so  I >r.  Loomis’s  first  efforts  had 
to  be  directed  to  “strengthening  the  things  which  remained, 
that  were  ready  to  die.”  Chapel  services  were  resumed,  and 
have  never  since  been  omitted  ; an  evening  school  for  Chinese 
young  men  was  organized,  which  is  still  successfully  carried 
on,  and  regular  visiting  and  tract  distribution  were  begun,  to  be 
continued  to  the  present  time.  Mrs.  Loomis  also  began  a sys- 
tem of  visitation  amongst  the  Chinese  women,  and  had  a class 
of  girls  who  came  to  the  Mission  House  for  instruction.  She 
also  had  occasional  meetings  of  Chinese  women  and  children 
in  the  chapel,  which  were  addressed  by  the  native  assistant. 

Converts  were  gained  very  slowly.  During  the  first  two 
years  only  one  was  baptized.  The  Chinese,  like  other  people, 
had  come  to  the  “ Golden  Hills  ” not  to  learn  the  Christian  re- 
ligion, but  to  get  some  gold  and  return  to  their  native  land  to 
live  in  ease  the  rest  of  their  days.  The  amount  of  patience 
and  resolution  required  to  carry  on  the  work  was  such  as  would 
have  crushed  any  ordinary  man.  But  the  need  of  patience 
was  not  confined  to  the  early  days  of  the  Mission.  If  one 
wishes  to  get  an  adequate  idea  of  the  obstacles  to  be  overcome, 
he  must  add  to  the  difficulties  which  are  usually  encountered  in 
a typical  western  mining  town,  the  errors  of  heathenism,  and 
remember  that  superadded  is  the  feeling  of  wrong  which  must 
rankle  in  the  minds  of  even  those  who  become  Christians  at 
the  hatred  and  suspicion  with  which  they  are  regarded  on  this 
coast. 

After  a few  years,  the  seed  having  taken  root,  additions  to 
the  church  were  more  frequent.  In  1870  the  Mission  was  re- 
inforced by  the  arrival  of  the  Rev.  I.  M.  Condit,  and  the  work, 
which  had  grown  too  large  for  one  man,  received  a new  im- 
petus. The  evening  school  increased,  and  both  the  mission- 
aries were  able  to  travel  more  than  heretofore  into  other  cities 
and  towns  in  the  State,  and  organize  schools  and  branch  mis- 
sions. Mr.  Condit  had  been  a missionary  in  Canton,  and  his 
accurate  knowledge  of  the  language  and  fine  powers  of  pre- 
senting the  truth  added  much  to  the  value  and  interest  of  the 


services. 


I 

In  April,  1876,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Condit  went  to  Los  Angeles, 
and  organized  a large  and  successful  mission  there.  About  a 
year  later  they  returned,  on  account  of  impaired  health,  and  in 
Oakland  organized  the  church  to  which  Mr.  Condit  still  min- 
isters, and  of  which  an  account  will  be  found  later  on. 

About  this  time  arose  the  fierce  persecution  of  the  Chinese, 
when  scenes  too  disgraceful  to  be  dwelt  on  were  enacted  on  the 
streets,  along  the  highways,  or  wherever  an  unoffending  China- 
man might  be  met.  The  members  of  the  churches  were  often 
stoned  on  their  way  to  attend  the  services,  and  the  attendance 
at  the  schools  decreased  considerably,  because  the  pupils  were 
in  fear  of  their  lives. 

Incessant  labor  and  the  seeds  of  malaria  contracted  in 
China  broke  down  Dr.  Loomis’  health,  and  he  was  compelled 
with  his  wife  to  go  East  and  to  Europe  to  recuperate.  During 
the  year  and  a quarter  of  their  absence,  in  1877-78,  the  mis- 
sion was  managed  by  J.  G.  Kerr,  M.D.,  of  Canton.  The  Rev. 
H.  V.  Noyes,  also  of  Canton,  then  in  this  country  for  his  health, 
did  excellent  service  in  Sacramento  and  Los  Angeles. 

In  1882,  the  time  having  come,  in  the  judgment  of  many, 
for  an  enlargement  of  the  work,  the  building  long  occupied  by 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  on  Stockton  Street,  between 
Clay  and  Washington  Streets,  was  purchased  by  the  Board  for 
the  use  of  the  church,  and  in  the  fall  the  Rev.  A.  J.  Kerr,  a 
recent  graduate  of  Princeton,  was  sent  to  reinforce  the  mission. 
He  began  at  once  the  study  of  the  Chinese  language,  and  en- 
gaged in  regular  work  in  the  school  and  church. 

The  new  church  is  a fine  brick  structure,  is  well  furnished, 
and  has  nearly  seven  hundred  sittings.  It  was  opened  in  No- 
vember of  that  year.  An  account  of  the  services  published  in 
The  Occident  said:  “Long  before  the  appointed  hour  the  Chi- 
nese began  to  assemble,  and  at  eleven  o’clock  the  large  build- 
ing was  full.  Every  available  seat  was  occupied,  chairs  and 
settees  were  placed  in  the  aisles,  scores  stood  up,  and  many 
more  were  unable  to  get  in.”  Several  clergymen,  among  whom 
were  the  Rev.  D.  Vrooman,  formerly  a missionary  in  Canton 
and  Australia,  Rev.  Dr.  Gibson,  of  the  M.  E.,  and  Rev.  Dr. 

*2 


8 


Hartwell,  of  the  Baptist,  Chinese  Missions,  Mr.  McCoy,  of  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  the  Rev.  Albert  Williams,  beside  the  mission- 
aries and  two  native  assistants,  took  part  in  the  services.  It 
was  an  occasion  of  joy  to  all  who  were  present. 

For  months  the  crowds  continued  to  attend,  but  as  many 
came  only  from  curiosity,  it  was  not  surprising  that  some  should 
get  up  and  go  out  during  the  progress  of  the  service.  For 
about  a year  and  a half,  however,  the  congregations  have  been 
growing  in  regularity,  quietness,  and  attentiveness,  and  now 
average  in  number  about  four  hundred  in  the  morning  and  one 
hundred  and  ten  in  the  evening.  At  first  some  would  come  in 
and  sit  down,  wearing  their  hats.  They  did  not  know  any 
better,  never  having  been,  in  all  probability,  inside  a Christian 
place  of  worship  before.  Now,  any  one  who  should  do  so 
would  be  smiled  at,  and  requested  by  some  neighbor  to  remove 
his  hat.  A few  still  leave  before  the  close  of  the  service,  but 
they  are  usually  servants  or  others  who  are  required  to  work. 

The  morning  congregation  is  an  interesting  sight,  and  one 
which  awakens  deep  feelings  of  thankfulness  in  every  Christian 
who  sees  it.  On  one  side,  in  front,  sit  the  thirty-five  girls  from  the 
“ Home, ’’under  the  faithful  and  devoted  care  of  Miss  M.  Culbert- 
son. They  are  in  their  places  and  usually  sing  a familiar  hymn 
before  the  services  commence.  Beyond  them  are  the  married 
Christian  women,  sometimes  to  the  number  of  a dozen  or  fifteen, 
with  their  lively  and  interesting  children.  On  the  other  side  of 
the  church,  in  front,  are  the  Christian  men,  each  with  a copy  of 
the  Scriptures,  from  which  he  reads  the  Psalm,  or  follows  the 
minister  while  he  reads.  Behind  them  usually  sit  the  pupils 
of  the  Evening  Mission  School,  and  some  of  the  boys  of  the 
Occidental  and  Union  (Globe  Hotel)  day  schools.  Back  of 
these  is  the  crowd  of  heathen,  many  of  them  still  idolators, 
some  in  a transition  state,  some  quite  favorably  disposed  toward 
Christianity.  The  organ  is  on  a corner  of  the  pulpit  platform, 
and  is  presided  over  by  a Chinese  merchant,  a member  of  the 
church,  and  former  pupil  of  the  school.  On  the  other  side  of 
the  pulpit  hang  the  hymns,  printed  on  sheets,  in  characters  so 
large  that  all  may  see  and  sing  in  unison.  One  of  the  elders 


9 


is  precentor,  and  though  the  time  may  not  always  be  perfect, 
nor  every  note  precisely  struck,  yet  the  hymn,  whether  in  Chi- 
nese or  English,  is  sung  heartily,  and  lifts  one  up  in  worship 
as  really  as  though  it  were  lead  by  a paid  choir  in  an  Eastern 
city.  In  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  we  are  assisted  by  our 
two  Chinese  teachers,  whose  fidelity  and  Christian  spirit  are 
recognized  with  thankfulness  to  God.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Condit 
has,  also,  by  exchange,  preached  several  times,  and  always  to 
deeply  interested  audiences.  A concert  for  Foreign  Missions 
is  held  on  the  first  Sabbath  evening  of  each  month,  when  sev- 
eral addresses  are  usually  made,  and  a collection  taken  up. 
The  Sacrament  of  the  Lord’s  Supper  is  celebrated  four  times  a 
year. 

Two  Sabbath  Schools  are  taught,  one  after  the  morning, 
the  other  before  the  evening  service.  The  attendance  during 
the  past  year  was  one  hundred  and  sixty-four,  and  though  not 
large,  has  been  encouraging.  It  would  be  twice  this  size  were 
it  possible  to  secure  competent  teachers.  Situated  as  the  Mis- 
sion is,  at  a distance  from  the  other  Presbyterian  Churches,  it 
is  difficult  to  get  those  who  are  interested  to  attend  at  the 
school  hours. 

There  have  been  received  into  the  Church  since  its  organi- 
zation: by  baptism  and  confession  of  faith,  158;  by  letter,  27; 
total  187.  53  have  been  dismissed  to  other  churches,  of  whom 
4 have  returned;  7 suspended,  and  17  have  died;  present  mem- 
bership, 1 14 — of  whom  25  are  absent  from  the  city  at  present. 
One  of  those  suspended  has  been  restored,  and  another,  while 
under  suspension,  was  received  by  a sister  denomination. 

Of  course,  these  numbers  do  not  show  the  total  results  of 
the  work  of  the  Mission,  because  in  many  of  the  interior  towns, 
as  well  as  in  some  Eastern  cities,  there  have  been  baptisms 
almost  every  year  as  the  direct  or  indirect  work  of  this  Mis- 
sion. Of  those  baptized  26  are  girls  or  women,  and  of  these 
all  but  two  are,  or  were,  members  of  the  “ Home.”  This  work 
for  women  and  girls  has  reached  its  present  successful  condi- 
tion from  very  small  beginnings.  Its  history  may  be  traced 
from  the  early  efforts  of  Mrs.  Loomis,  already  mentioned. 


10 


Twelve  years  ago  the  Ladies’  Occidental  Board  began  organ- 
ized work,  and  since  then,  under  their  efficient  management, 
the  number  of  girls  and  women  under  instruction  and  care  has 
been  constantly  increasing.  Marriages  are  contracted  between 
these  Christian  girls  and  male  members  of  the  church,  and 
nearly  a score  of  Christian  homes  have  been  established  in  this 
way.  The  church  has,  besides  the  above,  twelve  baptized  chil- 
dren, to  whom  it  looks  with  much  hopefulness. 

The  church  prayer-meeting  is  held  on  Saturday  evening,  and 
is  followed  by  a half  hour  devoted  to  singing. 

The  great  obstacle  to  the  growth  in  Christian  grace  of  many 
of  our  members  seems  to  be  Sabbath  desecration.  We  have 
had  recently  much  reason  to  mourn  the  low  standard  of  Chris- 
tian character  shown  by  some,  especially  in  their  observance  of 
the  Lord’s  Day.  Heathenism,  whether  in  China  or  California, 
knows  no  Sabbath,  and  Church  members  are  made  to  feel  in 
business  the  competition  of  heathen  customs.  Many  of  their 
American  patrons  seem  to  have  as  erroneous  views  of  the 
Lord’s  Day  as  the  heathen,  and  the  tide  of  Sabbath  desecration 
runs  high  all  through  this  State. 

Renewed  testimony  has  been  received  during  the  past  year 
to  the  Christian  character  of  some  of  our  absent  members,  and 
to  the  widespread  influence  of  the  work.  At  least  eight  who, 
during  the  history  of  the  Mission,  were  converted  and  had  com- 
menced their  studies  here,  have  returned  to  Canton  to  take  a 
regular  course  of  education.  We  believe  six  of  them  have 
proved  acceptable  preachers,  while  two  are  physicians  ; one  of 
the  former  is  now  the  installed  pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyter- 
ian Church  of  Canton,  and  one  of  the  latter  is  the  head  assist- 
ant in  the  hospital  of  our  Board  in  the  same  city.  The  late 
Rev.  Dr.  Damon  said  the  best  preachers  and  the  most  influen- 
tial church  members  they  had  had  for  many  years  in  the  Chinese 
Church  in  Honolulu  came  from  this  California  Mission.  Last 
year’s  report  said,  in  reference  to  Fong.Doon,  one  of  the  elders 
of  the  church,  on  the  eve  of  his  departure  for  China  : “ It  is 
safe  to  say  that  no  man  in  Chinatown  was  more  respected  for 
his  Christian  character,  and  none  exerted  a wider  influence  for 


11 


the  truth.”  Recently,  a young  man,  who  has  been  a member 
of  our  church  for  about  two  years,  and  who  formerly  resided  in 
San  Jose,  and  attended  the  Mission  school  there,  has  been  tak- 
en under  our  care  as  a student  for  the  ministry.  He  is  stu- 
dious and  bright,  and  manifests  an  earnest  Christian  spirit.  He 
knows  a good  deal  of  the  Word  of  God,  and  is  anxious  to  learn. 
He  studies  English  and  Chinese  in  the  day  school,  and  in  the 
evening  is  under  the  instruction  of  one  of  the  missionaries.  The 
Rev.  S.  J.  McPherson,  D.D.,  of  Chicago,  kindly  provided  by 
special  means  for  the  boy’s  expenses  during  the  past  six  months. 

So  it  appears  that  while  the  work  has  some  difficult  and  dis- 
couraging features,  it  has  also  many  glorious  encouragements 
and  proofs  of  blessed  usefulness. 

The  benevolence  of  the  church  has  increased,  especially  dur- 
ing the  last  few  years,  in  a marked  manner.  When  the  floods 
did  so  much  devastation  in  North  China  about  two  years  ago, 
our  Mission  contributed  $540  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers  (over 
$800  were  contributed  for  this  purpose  by  the  Presbyterian 
Chinese  of  California).  About  the  same  time  $85  were  given 
for  the  erection  of  a chapel  in  an  interior  city  in  the  province 
of  Canton,  whence  some  of  our  members  had  come.  At  a 
union  meeting  in  our  church,  $62  were  collected  for  the  Amer- 
ican Bible  Society.  One  hundred  dollars  were  sent  last  year 
to  Los  Angeles,  to  aid  in  the  erection  of  the  Chinese  church 
under  our  Board  in  that  city.  The  causes  of  Ministerial  Relief 
and  Home  Missions  have  been  remembered,  and  during  the 
last  two  years  $366  have  been  contributed  directly  for  Foreign 
Missions;  while  the  amounts  given  to  aid  sick  brethren  and 
to  pay  the  funeral  expenses  of  those  who  died,  have  approxi- 
mated, during  the  same  period,  $100. 

Special  meetings,  sociables  and  receptions,  held  in  the  church, 
have  long  been  a marked  feature  of  our  work.  At  Chinese  New 
Year  a union  meeting,  conducted  by  the  native  Christians,  is 
held  every  year.  Miss  Cable,  who  goes  from  house  to  house 
accomplishing  work  as  effective  as  it  is  laborious,  has  had  pleas- 
ant entertainments  for  the  fifty  Chinese  children,  chiefly  little 
girls,  who  are  under  her  instruction ; Mrs.  Loomis,  aided  by 
*3 


12 


other  ladies  of  the  Mission,  has  arranged  reunions  of  the  Chris- 
tian women  and  their  friends,  which  have  proved  delightful 
occasions. 

The  most  noteworthy  reception  of  the  past  year  was  the 
celebration,  on  Sept.  15  th,  of  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of 
l)r.  Loomis’s  work  in  the  Mission.  The  church  was  filled 
almost  to  overflowing  with  Chinese  and  Americans,  among 
whom  were  several  of  the  ministers  of  the  city.  Other  mis- 
sions were  well  represented.  Beautiful  decorations,  Chinese 
and  American  flags,  wreaths  and  flowers,  appeared  in  every 
available  place.  The  singing  was  spirited,  and  the  addresses 
excellent.  One  of  the  first  speeches  was  by  a Chinaman,  in  be- 
half of  the  old  scholars,  testifying  to  their  love  for  Dr.  Loomis  ; 
another  was  by  a Chinese  merchant,  one  of  the  influential 
members  of  the  church,  and  teacher  of  a Bible  class  in  the  Sab- 
bath School.  He  spoke  in  behalf  of  the  church  and  congrega- 
tion. Having  referred  to  the  small  beginnings,  the  serious  ob- 
stacles, and  the  discouraging  trials  of  the  work,  he  continued  : 
“ And  yet  his  work  has  been  a success,  even  as  we  business  men 
speak  of  success.  Much  more,  I think,  is  it  a success  in  God’s 

eyes.  Nearly  two  hundred  have  been  received  into  this  our 

church  during  these  twenty-five  years,  but  the  number  is  hardly  a 
measure  of  the  multitude  who  have  learned  the  way  of  life.  We 
know  that  there  are  hundreds  scattered  all  through  this  coun- 
try who  know  of  Christ  because  Dr.  Loomis  preached  Him  to 
them But  it  is  not  the  church  alone  that  I rep- 
resent to-night.  I speak  also  for  the  Chinese  generally,  and  I 

say  that  the  Chinese  people  of  this  city  know  that  no  man  has 
been  a better  friend  to  them  than  Dr.  Loomis.  From  the  very 
first  he  has  been  the  one  to  whom  we  could  go  for  advice  and 
help.”  An  address  was  also  given  by  the  Rev.  Albert  Wil- 
liams, the  founder  and  first  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  wrho,  through  all  these  years,  has  been  a warm 
friend  of  the  Mission.  He  testified  to  his  own  and  his  breth- 
ren’s esteem  and  love  for  Dr.  Loomis,  and  their  deep  interest 
in  his  work. 

The  Rev.  I.  M.  Condit  spoke  in  behalf  of  the  Mission.  His 


13 


address  was  published  in  full  in  The  Occident  of  September 
24th,  and  contained  such  a comprehensive  statement  of  the 
work  and  the  means  by  which  the  results  have  been  accom- 
lished,  that  we  wish  it  could  be  reprinted  here  in  full.  Two 
extracts  only  are  given  : 

“ The  work  is  of  a character  to  draw  on  the  very  life-blood 
of  one’s  soul.  Those  who  are  pastors  of  churches  among  our 
own  people  cannot  appreciate  what  this  means.  Those  who 
are  in  the  line  of  regular  missionary  labors  on  heathen  ground 
cannot  do  so.  Neither  can  those  who  merely  teach  the  Chinese 
for  half  an  hour  on  the  Sabbath.  It  is  a peculiar  work.  There 
is  nothing  else  like  it  at  home  or  abroad  the  world  over.  It  is 
all  a drawing  out  process,  and  nothing  coming  back  in  its  place. 
It  lacks  the  stimulus  of  intellectual  effort,  which  to  one  with 
any  brains  is  no  small  matter.  It  lacks  the  support  and  pleas- 
ure derived  from  responsive  social  companionship.  It  is  the 
treadmill  work  of  teaching  the  simplest  elements  of  our  lan- 
guage in  the  school,  night  after  night,  year  in  and  year  out, 
going  through  the  same  endless  round,  and  making  no  ad- 
vance ; the  scholars  of  to-day  gone  and  new  ones  taking  their 
places  to-morrow.  It  is  preaching  the  simplest  elements  of 
the  Gospel  over  and  over  again,  picking  up  a few  pebbles  only 
on  the  shore,  without  being  able  to  launch  out  into  the  deeper 
waters  of  truth.  It  is  feeling  the  selfish  reason  which  brings 
these  people  first  to  the  Mission,  and  only  continues  to  bring 
many  of  them.  It  is  the  ignorance,  lowness,  superstitiousness, 
indifference,  dislike  of  the  Gospel,  money-lovingness,  which  per- 
vades their  whole  nature,  as  they  are  first  come  in  contact  with 
by  the  missionary.  It  is  seeing  them  come  to  the  chapel,  and 
not  knowing  whether  you  will  ever  see  their  faces  again.  It  is 
the  jargon  of  dialects  that  they  speak,  and  the  difficulty  of 
appreciating  their  ideas  and  feelings;  and,  too,  of  not  knowing 
how  much  they  understand  and  appreciate  of  ours.  All  this 
and  much  more  makes  me  say  that  our  brother’s  twenty-five 
years  of  faithful,  plodding,  earnest  work,  under  these  peculiar 
circumstances,  renders  the  tribute  to  it  of  this  occasion  a 
most  eminently  proper  one  to  offer 


14 


“But  the  work  has  had  its  compensations.  As  you  stand, 
Dr.  Loomis,  to-day,  amid  this  band  of  Chinese  Christian 
brothers,  and  see  their  earnest  endeavors  to  live  Christian 
lives,  and  think  of  others  who  have  died  triumphant  deaths, 
and  gone  to  heaven  as  surely  as  a soul  has  ever  entered  there, 
and  think  of  others  scattered  over  most  of  the  States  and 
Territories  of  our  land,  and  still  others  in  China,  and  these 
men  living  by  the  gospel  which  they  learned  in  this  Mission — I 
say  it  has  a glorious  compensation  for  every  sacrifice  which  has 
been  laid  upon  the  altar,  for  every  shred  of  knowledge  which 
has  been  withheld  from  the  brain,  and  for  every  drop  of  blood 
which  has  been  drawn  from  the  soul’s  life.” 

After  this  came  an  address  by  one  of  the  elders,  Mr.  Loi 
Mong,  during  which,  on  behalf  of  the  Church,  he  presented 
Dr.  Loomis  with  a handsome  gold  watch,  bearing  an  appropri- 
ate inscription.  After  an  affectionate  and  affecting  response, 
in  which  the  Doctor  declared  that  he  did  not  recognize  him- 
self in  all  the  kind  things  that  were  said  concerning  him,  a re- 
ception was  held,  at  which  refreshments  provided  by  the  young 
men  were  enjoyed. 

House  to  house  visitation,  tract  distribution,  visiting  the 
branch  missions  in  interior  towns,  and  the  Chinese  in  villages 
and  on  ranches,  where  no  local  effort  is  made  for  their  instruc- 
tion, are  regular  duties  of  the  missionaries.  In  this  outside 
work  they  are  efficiently  aided  by  the  three  men  who  act  as 
colporteurs  and  lay  preachers — Shing  Chack,  Nam  Art,  and  Ngo 
Chew  Fong. 

It  is  a real  pleasure  to  go  into  some  of  the  Christian  homes, 
but  visiting  the  heathen  is,  for  the  most  part,  exceedingly 
laborious  work.  One  has  to  go  into  cellars  and  garrets  ; from 
wealthy  stores  to  dens  of  opium  ; up  filthy  stairways  and 
through  smoky  halls ; along  offensive  alleys  and  into  dark 
lanes.  But  we  are  glad  to  say  that  no  one  of  the  ladies  of  the 
mission  has  ever  received,  even  in  the  lowest  places,  anything 
but  the  most  respectful  regard.  Of  course,  heathenism  and 
filth  do  not  prevail  everywhere.  In  many  places  neatness  and 


15 


order  reign  as  in  American  houses  ; and  Christian  homes  pre- 
sent, as  a rule,  a striking  contrast  to  those  of  the  heathen. 

A second  part  of  the  work  is  educational.  A school  for 
young  men  meets  every  week  day  evening,  except  Saturday, 
from  6.30  to  9.10  o’clock,  in  the  Mission  House,  800  Stockton 
Street.  It  has  always  been  an  important  factor  in  the  mission 
work.  In  it,  besides  the  importance  of  the  education  imparted, 
the  missionaries  get  acquainted  with  young  men,  meet  inquir- 
ers, and  give  them  special  instruction  in  religious  truth. 
While  a large  majority  of  the  scholars  are  only  beginners, 
classes  in  arithmetic,  grammar,  geography,  history,  essay  writ- 
ing, and  the  Bible  have  been  maintained.  No  tuition  is 
charged,  and,  as  in  all  such  schools,  the  pupils  at  first  attend, 
not  to  learn  the  Gospel,  but  to  advance  their  own  interests. 
To  accomplish  our  purposes,  therefore,  the  last  twenty-five 
minutes  of  each  session  are  spent  in  religious  instruction — sing- 
ing, learning  the  Commandments,  the  Lord’s  Prayer,  the  Beat- 
itudes, the  Apostles’  Creed,  etc.,  while  on  Wednesday  evening 
an  exposition  of  some  New  Testament  passage  is  given  in  Chi- 
nese. All  are  required  to  be  present  and  give  their  undivided 
attention  to  these  instructions,  and  many  learn  to  respect  the 
Bible,  love  the  songs,  and  join  with  reverence  in  the  prayers. 
Much  of  the  success  of  the  school  is  due  to  the  faithfulness  and 
interest  of  the  teachers,  Mr.  O.  R.  Coe,  Mrs.  C.  T.  Phillips, 
and  Mrs.  Donn-Ellen,  all  of  whom  have  been  connected  with 
the  school  for  years. 

The  number  of  scholars  is  not  so  large  as  before  the  Restric- 
tion Act  went  into  force,  but  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  have 
been  on  the  rolls  during  the  past  year.  The  nightly  attendance 
has  varied  from  sixty-five  to  over  one  hundred,  the  average 
being  over  eighty.  A large  majority  of  the  members  of  the 
church  have  come  through  the  school. 

There  are  besides  two  day  schools  for  boys  and  girls  regu- 
larly visited  by  the  missionaries.  The  Occidental  School  of  the 
Woman’s  Board  is  taught  by  Miss  Baskin  with  a devotion  and 
enthusiasm  which  are  reflected  by  her  pupils.  The  Union 
School,  maintained  by  the  Woman’s  Union  Mission,  is  taught 


16 


by  the  Misses  McFarland,  who  also  conduct  successfully  a kin- 
dergarten for  the  little  ones.  These  schools  have  somewhat 
over  thirty  pupils  each,  and  the  older  ones  show  a good  knowl- 
edge of  the  Bible  and  its  teachings.  In  the  home  and  school 
for  girls  the  teaching  is  in  English,  but  regular  religious  in- 
struction is  given  in  Chinese. 

A third  division  of  the  work  of  this  mission  may  be  termed 
miscellaneous.  It  includes  a sort  of  agency  for  the  Chinese, 
Japanese,  Siamese,  and  Corean  missionaries  and  their  friends 
Those  on  the  field  send  us  orders  to  have  filled ; and  their 
friends  at  home  make  use  of  us  as  forwarders.  Letters,  freight, 
and  packages  of  all  kinds  are  consigned  to  our  care  ; Custom 
House  and  insurance  matters,  and  the  varied  resulting  corres- 
pondence, must  be  attended  to.  For  the  going  out  and  return- 
ing missionaries  we  are  also  called  upon  to  render  frequent 
service.  This  secular  business  has  become  a serious  tax  upon 
time  and  strength ; but  some  agency  here  seems  to  be  neces- 
sary. 

Numerous  letters  from  all  parts  of  our  country  are  received 
weekly,  some  begging  special  information  for  mission  concerts  ; 
others  asking  for  instructions  as  to  how  work  may  be  done  for 
the  Chinese ; while  many  come  from  our  own  absent  members 
and  former  scholars.  Eastern  tourists  are  frequent  visitors  at 
our  church,  and  are  always  welcome.  We  wish  more  of  them 
would  come.  It  is  a strange,  not  to  say  sad,  commentary  on 
Christian  visitors  to  our  city,  that  they  will  pay  a detective  to 
conduct  them  “ through  Chinatown/'  and  will  imbibe  what  he 
and  others  like  him  may  say  regarding  the  Chinese,  but  will 
never,  seemingly,  think  of  the  other  side,  or  inquire  whether 
there  be  such  a thing  as  a church  for  these  people.  And 
scores  of  such  visitors  will  go  through  the  slums  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, who  would  never  dream  of  visiting,  either  from  curiosity 
or  benevolence,  the  low  places  of  their  own  eastern  cities.  The 
Chinese  themselves  recognize  this  inconsistency,  and  not  un- 
frequently  speak  of  it. 


17 


OAKLAND. 

Report  prepared  by  Rev.  I.  M.  Condit. 

The  Oakland  work  was  entered  on  in  1877  by  Rev.  Ira  M. 
Condit  and  Wife.  Before  this  there  was  a flourishing  Chinese 
Sunday  School  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  under  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Eells,  who  always  took  a warm  interest  in  Chinese  work  ; 
and  also  an  evening  school  during  the  week.  Thirteen  Chi- 
nese had  been  baptized  and  received  into  the  First  Church. 
For  the  new  Mission  a lot  was  purchased  on  Thirteenth  Street, 
and  a chapel  and  dwelling  erected  thereon.  February  10th, 
1878,  the  chapel  was  dedicated  in  the  presence  of  a large  audi- 
ence of  Americans  and  Chinese.  The  evening  school  was  moved 
into  the  new  Mission  House.  It  soon  doubled  its  numbers, 
and  had  70  scholars  in  regular  attendance.  July  7th,  1878,  a 
Chinese  church  of  16  members  was  organized  by  a committee 
of  the  Presbytery  of  San  Francisco.  Shing  Chack  was  elected 
Ruling  Elder.  At  the  first  Communion  service  13  were  added 
to  the  church.  Of  these  7 were  by  letter,  and  6 by  profession 
of  their  faith  in  Christ.  There  never  has  been  a Communion 
without  some  additions  to  the  church.  The  highest  number 
baptized  at  any  one  time  was  ix.  The  whole  number  who 
have  been  received  since  the  organization  is  90.  Of  these  65 
have  been  added  by  baptism.  The  present  membership  is  66. 
Two  from  this  church  are  now  in  the  East  studying  for  the 
ministry.  Some  are  scattered  over  different  States  and  territo- 
ries of  our  own  land,  and  some  are  in  China.  Letters  are  often 
received  from  many  of  them,  telling  of  their  being  still  faith- 
ful to  the  Saviour,  and  of  the  good  that  they  are  trying  to  do 
to  their  countrymen.  One  of  them,  from  the  northern  part 
of  the  State,  when  on  a visit  here,  showed  the  Missionary  a pa- 
per signed  by  forty  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  town  where  he 
lived,  testifying  to  his  good  character  in  reference  to  some  trou- 
ble he  had  had  from  bad  men  when  trying  to  open  a new  store. 
Those  who  return  to  China  often  have  to  suffer  much  persecu- 


18 


tion  for  the  name  of  Christ.  One,  on  h is  return  to  China, 
married  a heathen  wife,  to  whom  he  had  been  betrothed  years 
before  by  his  parents.  She  so  hated  the  Gospel  that,  at  the 
instigation  of  her  friends,  one  night,  while  he  was  asleep,  she 
tied  him  to  the  bed,  and  was  going  to  kill  him.  He  awoke  in 
time  to  save  his  life.  Afterwards  she  was  converted,  and  be- 
came with  him  a faithful  Christian. 

The  church  now  has,  in  addition  to  the  original  elder,  Shing 
Chack,  a second  one  named  Dang  Hung.  He  is  a very  ear. 
nest  and  devoted  Christian  man,  and  his  influence  over  the 
members  is  most  excellent.  It  is  his  purpose  soon  to  return 
to  China,  and  spend  some  time  in  studying  the  Bible  at  our 
school  in  Canton,  in  order  to  prepare  himself  better  for  evan- 
gelistic work,  at  his  own  charges,  in  his  native  district. 

There  are  six  weekly  services  connected  with  the  work. 
Two  of  these  are  the  regular  ones  on  Sabbath  morning  and 
evening.  In  the  morning  many  are  prevented  from  attending, 
as,  in  the  homes  where  they  work,  their  time  is  not  their  own ; 
but  in  the  evening  the  chapel  is  well  filled.  A brief  service  is 
held,  and  a short  sermon  preached  on  Wednesday  night  at  the 
close  of  school.  On  Saturday  night,  as  there  is  no  school,  a 
Bible  study  and  prayer-meeting  is  held.  These  week-day  even- 
ing meetings  are  well  attended  by  all  the  Chinese  Christians 
who  are  within  reach.  A service  for  many  years  has  been  held 
at  a jute  mill  in  East  Oakland.  Formerly  800  Chinese  were 
employed  there,  and  often  200  have  been  present  at  the  service. 
Now  the  number  at  work  is  much  smaller,  but  they  are  still 
visited  on  Sabbath  afternoon,  and  a number  of  them  attend 
the  Sunday  and  evening  schools.  All  these  services  are  in  the 
Chinese  language. 

The  evening  school,  held  every  night  of  the  week  but  Sat- 
urday, from  seven  to  half  past  nine  o’clock,  is  for  teaching  Eng- 
lish. This  formerly  numbered  as  many  as  70  or  80  scholars. 
The  Sunday  School  also  numbered  as  many  as  100  in  regular 
attendance.  Since  the  Restriction  Law  was  passed,  prevent- 
ing new  Chinese  from  coming,  and  as  old  scholars  are  scatter- 
ing, the  number  is  not  more  than  one-half  what  it  used  to  be. 


19 


Still,  the  schools  are  interesting.  The  Sunday  School  has 
seven  Bible  classes,  and  some  of  the  classes  have  six  and 
eight  scholars  in  them.  As  many  as  twenty-five  verses  from 
the  Bible  are  repeated  by  as  many  different  scholars.  These 
schools  solve  the  great  problem  of  how  to  get  hold  of  the 
Chinese,  and  bring  the  Gospel  to  bear  upon  them.  They 
want  to  learn  English,  and  so  they  will  come.  Some  object 
that  they  only  come  to  learn  English  in  order  to  help  them  to 
make  money.  Well,  let  it  be  so.  If  they  cared  not  for  Eng- 
lish, how  could  we  get  to  them  or  they  to  us?  Let  this  selfish 
motive  bring  them,  as  the  loaves  and  fishes  brought  many  to 
Christ  when  on  earth.  We  mean  more,  and  the  Lord  meant 
more,  than  giving  them  a little  English.  We  have  seen  them, 
by  the  scores,  come  to  the  school  only  for  this  end,  but  the 
Gospel  took  hold  upon  their  hearts,  and  they  became  some  of 
our  very  brightest  Christians. 

When  the  Chinese  become  converted  they  are  liberal  in  giv- 
ing to  various  objects  of  benevolent  and  Christian  work.  Dur 
ing  the  famine  in  China,  the  members  of  our  church  gave  $130 
for  the  sufferers.  They  gave,  also,  $30  to  send  a poor,  sick 
brother  back  to  China.  They  gave  $40  toward  building  a new 
Chinese  church  in  Los  Angeles.  Including  Foreign  Missions 
and  congregational  purposes,  they  gave  last  year  $175,  which, 
for  those  who  are  poor,  and  have  families  to  support  in  China, 
is  more  in  proportion  than  is  given  by  many  of  the  churches  of 
our  own  people. 


LOS  ANGELES. 

Los  Angeles  ranks  next  after  Oakland  in  the  importance  and 
extent  of  the  work  done.  The  Mission  organized  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Condit  was,  on  their  departure,  passed  over  to  the  United 
Presbyterian  Board.  But  most  of  the  young  men  who  had 
been  connected  with  the  Mission  were  unwilling  to  change 
their  church  relations,  and,  at  their  own  expense,  rented  rooms, 
maintained  religious  meetings,  and  sustained  an  evening  school, 
while  they  attended  services  and  Sabbath  School,  as  they  had 


20 


done  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church.  This  state  of  things 
being  likely  to  continue,  the  pastor  of  the  church,  the  Rev.  J. 
W.  Ellis,  with  his  session,  advised  the  Board  to  encourage  the 
school,  and  arrange  for  proper  supervision.  Accordingly,  the 
present  teachers,  Mrs.  Noble  and  her  daughter,  Miss  Boone, 
were  secured,  and  the  school  has  been  conducted  by  them 
with  excellent  results.  Two  years  ago  the  young  men  were  set 
off  from  the  First  Church  and  organized  into  a Chinese  church 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Los  Angeles,  and  immediately  began  ac- 
tive measures  to  secure  a church  building  for  themselves.  By 
the  aid  of  their  brethren  in  other  places  $1,200  were  paid  for 
a lot,  and  a chapel  has  been  erected  at  an  additional  cost  of 
$1,100 — part  of  which  sum  was,  however,  given  by  the  Board 
of  Church  Erection.  Forty-three  in  all  have  been  baptized  here, 
and  the  enrolled  membership  of  the  school  is  about  sixty-five. 
Early  in  the  past  year  the  church  felt  the  depression  caused  by 
the  bad  conduct  of  one  of  its  members,  and  later  a quarrel  be- 
tween two  other  members  brought  much  disgrace  upon  the  lit- 
tle company  of  Christians.  “ They  have  been  patient  and 
faithful  under  trials  and  discouragements  which  would  have 
overwhelmed  less  brave  souls,”  write  the  teachers;  and  Mr.  E. 
H.  Hyde,  one  of  the  faithful  friends  of  the  Chinese  in  Califor- 
nia, says : “ This  is  one  of  the  best-working  churches  on  the 
Pacific  Coast.”  A native  helper,  Nam  Art,  has  for  some  time 
past  ministered  to  the  church.  Services  are  held  on  Sabbath 
morning  and  evening,  while  a good  Sabbath  School  is  taught  by 
faithful  teachers.  The  prayer  meeting  on  Saturday  evening  is 
fairly  attended,  and  the  secular  school  is  closed  every  evening 
with  religious  instruction  and  exercises. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Condit  will  hereafter,  for  a time  at  least,  make 
their  headquarters  at  Los  Angeles. 


SACRAMENTO. 

The  work  begun  in  Sacramento  as  early  as  1863  by  occa- 
sional visits  of  the  Rev.  A.  W.  Loomis,  D.D.,  was  continued  by 


21 


various  colporteurs  down  to  1870,  when  a Sabbath  School  was 
begun  in  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  church.  Sit  Moon, 
who  more  recently  was  pastor  of  the  Chinese  church  in  Hon- 
olulu, Sandwich  Islands,  was  one  of  the  earnest  workers  here. 
The  first  to  unite  with  our  church  was  a fisherman,  who  was 
baptized  in  1869. 

The  presence  of  a Chinese  population  of  about  two  thousand 
led  to  more  aggressive  movements,  and  a large  room  was  rented 
and  an  evening  school  establised  in  1872.  From  the  first  the 
work  has  been  encouraging.  No  year  has  passed  without 
some  making  a profession  of  their  faith  in  Jesus.  For  a while 
Quan  Loy,  one  of  the  converts  and  students  in  the  San  Fran- 
cisco mission,  was  stationed  here  as  Native  Helper.  He  after- 
wards went  to  Canton,  where  he  completed  his  studies,  and 
where,  two  years  ago,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor 
of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  that  city.  His  memory 
is  still  precious  in  Sacramento,  among  the  Chinese  and  Ameri- 
can Christians  alike.  Forty-one  have  been  received  into  the 
church  from  the  beginning.  They  have  in  most  cases  proved 
themselves  faithful  Christians.  One  is  now  preaching  the  Gos- 
pel in  China,  another  is  in  Honolulu,  still  another  is  an  active 
member  of  the  church  in  Oakland.  Others  are  in  the  East. 
Wherever  they  have  gone  they  are  witnessing  for  Christ.  The 
school  at  present  is  taught  by  Mrs.  E.  F.  Wilder.  She  is  also 
superintendent  of  the  Chinese  Sunday  School,  and  teaches  the 
Chinese  women  in  their  homes  every  week,  in  connection  with 
the  Woman’s  Occidental  Board.  In  every  place  she  is  earnest 
and  efficient.  The  school  has  now  an  attendance  of  about 
thirty  scholars.  Religious  exercises  are  held  at  the  close  of 
every  session,  and  regular  services  are  maintained  on  Sabbath 
evening.  At  present  Shing  Chack,  the  elder  of  the  Oakland 
church,  is  preaching  here.  A beautiful  organ  was  recently 
purchased  by  the  young  men,  and  two  of  them  have  learned  to 
play  it  with  skill.  Three  have  been  added  to  the  Westminster 
church  by  baptism  during  the  past  year.  The  Mission  has  al- 
ways been  warmly  fostered  by  this  church,  and  especially  by  the 
pastor,  the  Rev.  H.  H.  Rice,  who  regards  this  portion  of  his 


22 


parish  as  important  as  any  other.  He  has  given  much  time 
and  valuable  counsel  to  the  Chinese  work  in  his  city. 


SAN  JOSE. 

The  Mission  in  San  Jose  was  begun  in  November,  1871. 
Mrs.  M.  S.  Carey  has  taught  the  evening  school  and  has  visit- 
ed among  the  Chinese  women  in  the  place  for  thirteen  years. 
She  has  had  assistance  frequently  from  several  warm  friends  of 
the  Master’s  Kingdom,  some  of  whom,  though  now  in  eastern 
homes,  maintain  their  deep  interest  in  the  work.  The  school 
had  at  one  time  eighty  scholars  enrolled,  but  the  average  at 
tendance  has  been  much  less.  Thirty  members  of  the  Mission 
have  been  baptized  either  in  San  Jose  or  other  places.  Three 
have  died — two  in  China,  one  in  San  Jose  ; the  latter  a notably 
triumphant  death. 

Counting  the  special  instruction  with  which  each  session  of 
the  evening  school  closes,  there  are  eight  religious  services  every 
week,  in  which  the  instruction  is,  for  the  most  part,  in  the  Chi- 
nese language. 

Mrs.  Carey  has  kept  up  a valuable  correspondence  with  ab- 
sent members.  The  responses  reveal,  for  the  most  part,  a warm 
Christian  spirit.  One  of  them  says  : “ I like  to  read  the  Bible, 
for  it  tells  me  of  God  who  gave  his  dear  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  to  die 
for  me.  I hope  you  will  pray  for  me,  that  I may  be  kind  and  try 
to  do  good,  as  my  Saviour  did.  Before  I learned  about  Jesus,  I 
worshiped  false  gods,  the  work  of  men’s  hands.  I thank  you  for 
teaching  me  all  good  things.”  Some  time  ago  the  Mission  was 
burned,  as  all  believed,  by  hoodlums,  and  Mrs.  Carey  wrote  to 
some  of  her  old  pupils  about  it.  Wong  Seung  answered  as 
follows  : “You  tell  me  old  school  be  burned,  and  you  have  to 
move  in  other  house,  and  many  boys  gone  other  country  and 
much  expense  now.  I give  you  twenty  dollars  for  what  you 
like.  God  give  you  strength,  and  help  you  teach  more  boys 
about  the  true  God.”  Another  in  Idaho  wrote  : “ Dear  Teach- 
er : You  know  the  time  I send  that  one  dollar;  the  reason,  I 


23 


was  very  poor  and  just  make  enough  to  defray  all  debts.  I 
now  drop  five  dollars  in  helping  to  support  the  school.  I work 
in  hotel ; when  I get  done  [in  the  evening]  I go  to  wash  house, 
have  a meeting.  Very  hard  to  get  them  to  believe  in  Jesus. 
They  say  to  me,  ‘ What  a foolish  boy  you  are  ! What  kind  of 
knowledge  have  you  in  your  head  ? Who  tell  you  believe  in 
Jesus  Christ  and  love  God  with  all  your  heart?’  So  I explain 
good  many  things  for  them  as  well  as  I can.  I hope  God  will 
bless  you.  This  is  my  prayer.  Chan  Ah  Sheung.” 

A gentleman  in  New  York  city  says  : “You  will  be  pleased 
to  learn  that  your  friend  and  pupil,  Gong  Ging,  has  made  a pro- 
fession of  his  faith  in  Christ,  and  been  received  into  this 
church.  We  have  several  Chinese  members  who  give  evidence 
of  sincere  faith  in  Christ.  The  Redeemer  has  blest  your  la- 
bors and  heard  your  prayers.” 

Three  years  ago,  when  Nam  Art  was  serving  as  Chinese  as- 
sistant in  this  school,  he  slept  in  a little  room  connected  with 
the  Mission  and  took  his  meals  at  the  store  of  a Chinese  mer- 
chant who  was  a worshiper  of  idols.  Day  after  day  Nam  Art 
talked  to  this  man  of  the  gospel,  and  one  morning  was  sur- 
prised to  find  him  at  the  door  of  his  room  before  he  was  up. 
The  merchant  came  to  say  that  he  had  decided  to  throw  away 
his  idols  and  worship  the  true  God.  Later  he  was  baptized, 
and  now  he  is  a good  student  of  the  bible,  does  his  best  to  ex- 
plain it  to  others,  and  is  witnessing  a good  profession. 


SANTA  ROSA. 

The  Mission  in  Santa  Rosa  has  had  an  interesting  history. 
In  1878,  some  of  our  members,  one  of  whom  was  Soo  Hoo 
Fong,  had  a laundry  there,  and,  in  order  to  keep  up  their  own 
knowledge  of  English,  and  induce  others  who  knew  not  Christ 
to  come  and  learn,  they  built  a room  for  a school  close  by  their 
wash  house.  Some  Christian  workers  from  the  Presbyterian 
church  volunteered  to  teach  a few  evenings  in  each  week,  and 
in  the  Sabbath  School  on  Sunday.  The  school  grew  in  an  en- 


24 


couraging  manner.  After  a while  it  was  raided  by  hoodlums, 
and  the  property  of  the  school  destroyed.  This,  however,  did 
not  discourage  the  young  men.  Money  was  collected,  a room 
rented,  and  a regular  teacher,  Mrs.  W.  Y.  Wilson,  engaged  for 
three  evenings  in  the  week.  Mrs.  Wilson  has  been  untiring  in 
her  work,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  some  who  kindly  volunteered 
to  assist  her,  much  good  has  been  accomplished.  It  was  here 
that  Nam  Art,  who  has  proved  both  in  China  and  California 
such  a popular  and  successful  worker,  received  much  of  his 
education.  And  from  this  little  school  have  gone  out  several 
earnest  Christians,  who,  in  other  places,  have  exerted  a wide 
influence.  One  of  them  is  now  a preacher  under  another  Mis- 
sionary Board  in  the  province  of  Canton.  Nearly  a dozen  have 
been  baptized,  and  five  are  now  nearly  or  quite  ready  to  profess 
Christ  openly. 

The  school  occupies  a comfortable  chapel  with  a room  for  a 
native  helper  attached.  A successful  effort  was  made  last  year 
to  purchase  the  building  with  the  corner  lot  on  which  it  stands. 
$1,040  were  paid,  and  the  title  vested  in  the  Board.  Of  this 
sum  $50  were  contributed  by  the  scholars,  $100  were  given  by 
the  Presbyterian  church.  The  Rev.  F.  M.  Dimmick,  formerly 
pastor  of  the  church  added  $140;  and  the  remaining  $750 
were  secured  by  the  Rev.  V.  A.  Louis,  of  Boston,  whose  inter- 
est in  Chinese  evangelization  is  unflagging. 


NAPA. 

Napa  has  long  had  a Chinese  Sunday  School,  maintained  by 
devoted  Christian  workers  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which 
the  Rev.  Richard  Wylie  is  pastor.  In  1881,  during  the  ab- 
sence of  Mr.  Wylie,  the  Rev.  V.  A.  Lewis  became  acting  pas- 
tor for  two  years,  and  his  influence  and  earnest  efforts  brought 
the  work  into  new  prominence,  and  to  its  present  flourishing 
condition.  A pleasant  and  comfortable  brick  chapel,  with 
the  lot  on  which  it  stands,  were  bought  for  five  hundred  dol- 
lars, one  hundred  dollars  of  which  were  contributed  by  the 


25 


Chinese  themselves  ; and  the  rest  was  raised  through  the  efforts 
of  Mr.  Lewis,  several  friends  in  Napa  contributing  liberally. 

The  Sunday  School  numbers  in  the  winter  time  thirty  schol- 
ars. In  the  summer  many  of  the  Chinese  scatter  out  into  the 
country  to  work,  so  that  the  schools  are  not  so  well  attend- 
ed. 

The  evening  school  is  held  several  nights  of  the  week,  and 
is  taught  by  volunteer  teachers,  who  are  devoted  friends  of  the 
work.  All  expenses  of  this  station  are  met  by  the  Chinese 
themselves.  They  also  gave  a contribution  toward  the  new 
church  in  Los  Angeles.  Eighteen  Chinese  have  been  received 
into  the  church  from  the  beginning,  and  three  during  the  past 
year.  One  of  the  Chinese  merchants  of  Napa  is  among  the 
converts.  He  is  an  active  and  liberal  Christian.  He  married 
a woman  from  the  Home,  named  Sau  Lon.  Several  years  ago 
she  was  picked  up  by  Mrs.  Condit  on  the  streets  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, a little  waif,  and  taken  to  the  Women’s  Home.  She  has 
developed  under  faithful  teaching,  until  now  she  is  a Christian 
woman,  wife  and  mother. 

The  work  in  Napa  is  a bright  example  of  what  might  be  ac- 
complished in  many  places  by  Christian  people  for  the  evange- 
lization of  the  Chinese.  The  work  from  the  beginning  has 
been  without  expense  to  the  Board,  and  the  results  accomplish- 
ed are  of  an  excellent  and  lasting  character. 


SAN  RAFAEL. 

In  San  Rafael  a small  evening  school  was  begun  in  1882, 
which  soon  grew  to  over  twenty  scholars.  It  has  been  taught 
by  volunteer  teachers,  chiefest  among  whom  is  Miss  Walker, 
whose  devotion  to  the  work  is  beyond  praise.  A Sabbath 
school  is  held  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  lecture  room  at  six 
o’clock,  and  is  carried  on  by  some  faithful  teachers,  among 
whom  are  the  Misses  McDonald.  A Bible  Class  is  taught  by 
the  pastor,  the  Rev.  Arthur  Crosby.  As  the  fruit  of  the  work, 
several  young  men  have  professed  Christ  and  been  baptized, 


26 


some  in  San  Rafael,  others  in  Oakland.  A good  deal  of  inter- 
est exists  at  present  among  the  scholars,  and  large  results  are 
hoped  for. 


ALAMEDA. 

Work  was  begun  by  our  Board  in  Alameda  in  1884,  by  the 
opening  of  an  evening  school.  Mrs.  Frazer  has  given  the  use 
of  a room  in  her  house  for  the  school,  and  also  teaches  every 
night  in  the  week  without  any  compensation.  A member 
of  the  Oakland  Chinese  church  has  given  an  organ  which 
he  owned  to  the  school.  The  school  has  had  forty  scholars 
in  it  since  its  organization,  and  now  averages  twelve  every 
night.  One  of  the  scholars,  formerly  taught  by  Mrs.  Wilson, 
after  giving  good  evidence  of  being  a Christian,  has  recently 
been  baptized.  The  school  has  been  much  aided  by  one  of 
the  Oakland  Christian  young  men,  who  now  lives  in  Alameda. 
The  school  already  needs  a larger  room. 


PLACERVILLE. 

A Chinese  Sunday  School  is  held  every  Sabbath  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Placerville.  Mrs.  Curry,  wife  of  the  pastor 
of  the  church,  and  Mrs.  Isbeel  are  the  earnest  spirits  in  main- 
taining the  Chinese  work  in  this  place.  During  the  past  year 
they  have  raised  $33.50  for  this  purpose.  One  interesting  fea- 
ture of  the  school  is,  that  it  is  largely  composed  of  Chinese 
children,  and  not  grown  men,  as  is  usual  in  other  places. 


SAN  BUENAVENTURA. 

At  San  Buenaventura  a small  school  has  been  taught  for 
more  than  two  years  by  the  Rev.  and  Mrs.  F.  D.  Seward. 
They  have  labored  zealously,  teaching  not  only  the  English 
language,  but  also  giving  such  Christian  instruction,  and  mani- 


27 


festing  such  Christian  friendliness,  as  cannot  fail  to  produce 
results  for  the  Master’s  Kingdom.  One  is  spoken  of  as  already 
a hearty  inquirer  after  the  truth.  The  work  has  been  a voluntary 
labor  of  love,  assumed  in  addition  to  the  trying  labors  of  a Cali- 
fornia pastorate. 


ANAHEIM. 

At  Anaheim  a school  was  begun  in  May,  1883,  by  the  Rev. 
J.  M.  Roberts,  and  has  been  taught  five  evenings  in  the  week 
by  him  and  his  two  young  daughters.  They  have  give  instruc- 
tion to  more  than  fifty  pupils.  A Chinese  class  in  the  regular 
church  Sabbath  School  numbers  about  six.  More  recently 
Mr.  Roberts  has  been  extending  his  work  among  the  Indians, 
and  Miss  M.  A.  McCoy,  in  addition  to  her  labors  as  teacher  of 
the  Spanish  school,  has  voluntarily  assumed  the  teaching  of 
the  Chinese. 


ORANGE. 

A very  interesting  Sabbath  School  is  maintained  at  Orange, 
under  the  efficient  superintendence  of  Mr.  J.  S.  Baldwin. 
More  than  fifty  scholars  have  been  taught  some  Gospel  truth. 
The  school  now  numbers  about  twelve,  and  is  held  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  of  which  the  Rev.  Alex.  Parker  is  pastor. 
Under  the  fostering  care  of  church  and  pastor,  it  is  hoped  that 
much  good  will  be  accomplished. 


PORTLAND,  OREGON. 

The  Synod  of  the  Columbia,  impressed  with  the  need  of  or 
ganized  work  for  the  thousands  of  Chinese  within  its  bounds, 
have  at  various  times  proposed  that  a missionary  should  be 
stationed  at  Portland,  who  could  extend  his  work  to  the  sur- 
rounding towns  on  the  Columbia  River  and  on  Puget  Sound. 
The  Rev.  W.  S.  Holt,  for  several  years  a missionary  of  our 


28 


Board  in  Shanghai,  having  been  compelled  to  return  home  be- 
cause of  ill  health,  was  sent  to  Portland  in  June  of  the  present 
year,  and  has  begun  an  evening  school  and  Sabbath  service, 
with  favorable  indications  of  accomplishing  a successful  work. 


JAPANESE  MISSION. 

In  response  to  an  urgent  request  from  a committee  of  min- 
isters and  elders  in  San  Francisco,  the  Board  decided  last  De- 
cember to  establish  a Japanese  Mission  in  this  city.  Between 
two  and  three  hundred  Japanese  are  said  to  be  already  here, 
and  a few  are  coming.  Many  of  them  have  been  under  mis- 
sionary influence  in  Japan,  and  are  anxious  to  obtain  further 
education  in  English. 

About  one  third  of  the  whole  number  are  connected  with  a 
sister  denomination,  and  about  seventy  of  the  remainder  are 
united  in  a “ Gospel  Society,”  organized  in  1878.  This  Society 
rents  a house  at  118  Golden  Gate  Avenue,  containing  lodging, 
recitation,  and  reading  rooms,  and  here  a school  has  been 
taught  four  evenings  in  the  week  since  December  last,  by  the 
Rev.  John  Carrington,  who  is  employed  by  the  Board  under 
the  direction  of  the  Chinese  missionaries.  He  has  about  thirty 
scholars.  Part  of  the  time  he  has  given  instruction  in  theology 
to  one  of  the  young  men,  who  desired  to  become  a minister. 

About  the  middle  of  last  April  a petition  was  presented  to 
the  Presbytery  of  San  Francisco  by  the  Christian  men  of  this 
Gospel  Society,  praying  that  they  be  organized  into  a Presby- 
terian church.  The  petition  was  granted,  and  a committee  ap- 
pointed to  receive  the  letters  which  might  be  presented,  ex- 
amine applicants  for  baptism,  and  complete  the  organization. 
This  was  done,  and  a church  of  33  members  was  formed.  Of 
these,  19  united  by  letter,  and  14  by  confession  of  faith  and 
baptism.  6 have  since  been  added  by  baptism,  making  the 
present  number  39.  Two  elders  were  elected  and  ordained, 
and  regular  services  are  maintained  on  Sabbath  evening.  A 
Sabbath  School  and  Bible  Class  are  taught  at  3 p.  m.  by  Mrs. 


29 


Albright.  An  interesting  prayer-meeting,  conducted  by  the 
young  men  themselves,  is  held  on  Wednesday  evening,  and  on 
Saturday  evening  a Gospel  service,  with  an  attendance  of  over 
forty,  is  led  by  Mr.  J.  B.  Roberts,  one  of  the  elders  of  the 
Howard  Presbyterian  Church,  to  whose  valuable  counsel  and 
untiring  zeal  much  of  the  success  accomplished  is  due.  The 
Board  is  in  communication  with  the  Missionaries  in  Japan,  with 
a view  of  securing  a native  minister  to  take  charge  of  the 
Church. 


DEPOSITORY  FOR  CHINESE  BOOKS  AND  TRACTS, 

Mission  House,  800  Stockton  Street, 

San  Francisco. 


Address  Rev.  A.  W.  Loomis,  D.D.,  or  Rev.  A.  J.  Kerr. 


CHINESE  SCRIPTURE  CARDS 

FOR  SUNDAY  SCHOOLS. 


Address  Mrs.  I.  M.  Condit,  Los  Angeles. 


Woman’s  Occidental  Board, 

MANAGING  THE 

Chinese  Woman's  Home, 

933  Sacramento  Street,  - San  Francisco. 

Miss  M.  Culbertson,  Superintendent. 


— and  the — 


OCCIDENTAL  DAY  SCHOOL, 

753  Clay  Street,  San  Francisco. 


Miss  M.  M.  Baskin,  Teacher. 


